Sunday, September 6, 2009
Shooting out to 50 yards with a Compound Bow
How to Shoot a Bow & Arrow at 50 Yards from the Target -- Weatherbyman Custom Archery, Inc.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Bow Torque "Eliminated"
Well... today (30 Aug 09), I am a very happy camper! Got a new shooting block ("the six shooter") -- hit my little red circles at 45 yards! Look at the results of this group of 5-6 arrows.
This is rocket hot! -- gawd, I love this bow and these Radial X-Weave 300's shoot as good as my 200's... this group is the best ever shot at 40+yds.
CBJ
This is rocket hot! -- gawd, I love this bow and these Radial X-Weave 300's shoot as good as my 200's... this group is the best ever shot at 40+yds.
CBJ
Sunday, August 23, 2009
What Bow Torque looks like and DOES NOT LOOK LIKE! :)
Here is an example (bottom picture)... of "Squeezing the bow grip" -- this creates what is known a "torque" -- this is NOT GOOD! Too tight a grip on the bow handle opens up your groups and causes flyers to the left and right.
Open that palm!
The results of the target (top picture) is shooting with an Oblique Stance and Open Palm ... takes lots of practice, but you can clearly see the results.
This is at 40 yards.
300 Grain Carbon Arrows 27" with 125 Grain Tips...
These 300gr. Carbon Express arrows shot equal to my 200gr. arrows with proper tune and adjustment to .5" increase in draw. FPS was almost 300 fps! Yes, even the short-draw bows are rocket hot when "Crackerized" :) - CBJ
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Proper Bow Shooting Techniques
A major part to accuracy success in archery hunting or target shooting is learning the proper shooting technique.
With the proper shooting technique, your accuracy will greatly increase and you can begin to watch your group sizes reduce dramatically.
First, you need to choose the accessories that are most comfortable to you. Basic accessories could increase accuracy, or reduce accuracy such as with the arm guard and the finger tabs vs. a good release aid device. Many errors in shooting techniques could be overdrawing a short arrow, items in pockets (such as a pen), poor stances, improper mental programs, bad follow through, poor anchor positions, poor vertical body alignments, and no mental focus.
Practice holding the bow and learn the correct positions. Don’t worry about not hitting the target. Focus on the correct form and the follow through. Then, slowly develop your own mental program and positive mental habits.
It is important for a good archer to stay focused and concentrate on their shots. Great archers practice and rehearse mental programs often that begin to form good archer habits.
The body should be aligned according to the independent stances and must not lean or fall in one position. Workouts are available to improve upper body muscles for better bow hold support.
The experienced archer knows that concentration and focus are the keys to success in competition or hunting. How do we keep our focus and concentration?
Many elite archers would tell you that, "It’s easy, but you need to develop your own Mental Program."
A mental program is a set of procedures that the archer follow through during his/her competition or preparing for that hunting shot. The mental program should be practiced and rehearsed regularly so that it may become easy during the time it is needed most.
This will help the archer to stay focused, concentrated and sometimes it helps to relax the tension. You should make a mental checklist and always practice and rehearse the list that best suits you.
Here is a example of a Mental Checklist.
Stance
A. Assume Stance
B. Nock Arrow
Draw and Aim
A. Set bow hold
B. Set draw hand hook
C. Raise bow and draw
D. Anchor
E. Align sight and level bow
F. Establish string pattern and sight picture
G. Focus, steady, and aim
Release and Follow Through
A. Tighten back muscles
B. Relax draw hand to release
C. Keep bow arm up and steady
The stances are important because the proper stance, means that archer will be able to distribute his/her body weight better. Proper stance keeps the archer’s shot consistent. View the stances below and notice how each stance is different in the feet placement.
Pros and Cons to Certain Stances
Type of Stance - Pros and Cons
Even Stance
Natural position
Small base of support in the front-back plane.
Easy to reproduce
Body isn't sturdy, so it can move if in high winds
Lowers area for string clearance, especially for large chested shooters.
Open Stance
Gives stable support base
Tends to make upper body twist towards target.
Reduces tendency to lean back from the target
Tends to use arm muscles more than back muscles to draw.
Close Stance
Gives stable support base
Reduces string clearance, so string may strike against body.
Gives good alignment of the arm and shoulder in direct line to the target
Tends to make archer lean away from target and overdraw the arrow.
Oblique Stance
Gives the greatest amount of clearance for the bowstring when arrows is released. Hard to maintain, so mainly used by expert archers. Body is in total equilibrium. Target can be seen clearly.
To begin practice, the exact placement of the feet on the shooting line should be marked. Some archers would tell you that stance deviations of even a few inches can cause sighting and aiming problems, which then in return could lead to accuracy problems.
Based on the scientific criteria, the open and oblique stances are better. But don’t base on your decision on just that. Individual choice is the pleasure of target archery. Many archers prefer the even stance. In this stance, the archer’s body weight is evenly distributed among both feet, and the heels and toes are aligned. The middle of the instep of the foot is aligned with the center of the target. However, the open stance is recommended for the beginning archer during their initial learning period.
In this stance, the feet should be shoulder-width apart. It is recommended that the archer should distribute his/her body weight evenly on both feet. The left foot should be moved backwards approximately six inches, as shown in the picture in stances. Some elite archers use the oblique stance.
In this stance the archer places his/her toe of the left foot nearest the target on a line and pivoting the left foot forty-five-degrees to the target.
The heel of the right foot is then placed in line with the toe of the left foot. This allows the bow arm to remain in a position where there will be optimum clearance of the bowstring when the arrow is released. The target should be seen clearly while using the oblique stance.
A closed stance. The shooting line is straddled and weight is evenly distributed among both feet. Left foot is moved forward a few inches so a heel-toe alignment exists between the left and right feet respectively. The four main steps in shooting are: Nocking, Drawing, Anchor Point, Release and Follow Through. These steps must be followed and done correctly to achieve greater accuracy. Look at the pictures below and observe the pattern. B. Nock Arrow
Nocking the arrow is the proper placement of the arrow in its shooting position on the bowstring.
Shooting starts when the archer holds the bow next to the hip near the target. Nocking begins when the archer has assumed his/her stance position. The arrow should be placed on the bowstring with the index feather upward at the serving.
The palm of the hand should never apply pressure on the bow. Relaxation is the basic fundamental of target archery. Expert athletes know when to relax under critical circumstances. Your mental program should help you with this and, thus, greatly increases your accuracy.
Draw Hand and Hook
Drawing: The act of pulling the bowstring to the anchor point on the archer’s face. Tip: Controlled breathing is important. A system should be developed for each archer so that the breathing is calm and the arms are stable during the total drawing, aiming, and releasing period.
Raise Bow and Draw
Before raising the bow, body position should be aligned and already assume the proper stance. Then gently raise the bow and look at the target. This is called nocking. Then simply draw out the arrows and aim at the target.
Anchor Point
Anchor Point is defined as the place on an archer’s face where the hand is placed consistently with the bowstring at full draw. Proper and comfort anchor points could increase the archer’s accuracy. It plays a great part in aiming and hitting the target. Anchor points are described as " high", or " low".
Pros and Cons to Certain Anchor Points
Low anchor point (Under Chin)
Two touch points provide consistency
Not comfortable for archers who have larges hands or short necks.
Stops overdrawing
Takes time to position
Low placement on face allows for long distances shots with less sight movement.
Tips: head control and position
Side anchor point
Quick position established
Allows overdrawing
Permits creeping
High anchor point (Release Aid)
Allows archers to partially sight down the arrow shaft and over the point if a bowsight is not being used.
Don't have bowsight.
The anchor point on or under the jaw bone is termed low. An anchor point on or near the bone inferior and also lateral to the eye is considered high. Depending on the facial contour and type of shooting, anchor points could differ among different archers. Many field archers, bow hunters, and instinctive shooters use the high anchor point.
When the bow is drawn, the sight level and bow level must be aligned properly to achieve maximum accuracy. Poor alignment could occur due to fatigue or possibly bad habit in practice.
Establish string pattern and sight picture
To increase accuracy. A young archer should never forget the importance of the proper string pattern and sight picture. First always mentally picture and visualize the target. Then assume the proper stance and arm yourself with the necessary gear for the draw. Check your nocking position and align your body position correctly.
Focus, steady, and aims
Once you have assume your stance and body alignment, then it's time to really focus. Steadily keep your bow hold position and aim at the target. During this whole process, keep the hand as steady as possible. If your bow starts to tremble the moment you lift it up, then that bow is too heavy for you. You must at least keep your bow from trembling for at least 5 seconds.
Release and Follow Through
Releasing the arrow properly is the most important fundamental in shooting. To follow through simply means to hold the release position until the arrow is safely launched onto the target. The key elements of success are: (1) Relaxation (2) and concentration. Here is a example of a good follow through: (1) The fingers on the bowstring hand are relaxed, (2) head and eyes are turned toward the target following the flight of the arrow,(3) the bow arm is extended toward the target, and (4) the bow hand is gripping the bow with the help of a sling.
A bow sling is designed to help the archer during the release and follow through. There are four different types of bow slings available. Any one of the bow sling will help the archer keep the bow from falling to the ground after the release.
Tighten back muscles
From this point on, it's basically time to shoot your first arrow. Tighten your back muscles and draw the bow string. Keep your back and arms straight at the target. Like any sports Archery also requires some muscle strength. Exercise regularly to improve your strength in both arms and back.
Relax draw hand to release
Keep your bow hold easy and relaxed. Never grip the bow too tightly. Your palm should only gently touche the nock. This could also reduce fatigue.
Keep bow arm up and steady
Once the arrow is released, you must still keep both of your hands and arms steady even after the release of the arrow, otherwise, the arrow might not be accurate after the release.
These techniques may increase your accuracy in shooting but it is up to the individual to practice and master the forms. As a new archer evolves, he/she might find new techniques and skills. No matter what the circumstances are either you are looking to become the Champ of Archery or just looking to improve your score.
I have one tip that will surely to help you.
Keep on practicing !!! There is no technique in the world that anyone could teach you to become the best archer. But with practice, you will definitely become one of the best archers in your world and enjoy the practice more.
With the proper shooting technique, your accuracy will greatly increase and you can begin to watch your group sizes reduce dramatically.
First, you need to choose the accessories that are most comfortable to you. Basic accessories could increase accuracy, or reduce accuracy such as with the arm guard and the finger tabs vs. a good release aid device. Many errors in shooting techniques could be overdrawing a short arrow, items in pockets (such as a pen), poor stances, improper mental programs, bad follow through, poor anchor positions, poor vertical body alignments, and no mental focus.
Practice holding the bow and learn the correct positions. Don’t worry about not hitting the target. Focus on the correct form and the follow through. Then, slowly develop your own mental program and positive mental habits.
It is important for a good archer to stay focused and concentrate on their shots. Great archers practice and rehearse mental programs often that begin to form good archer habits.
The body should be aligned according to the independent stances and must not lean or fall in one position. Workouts are available to improve upper body muscles for better bow hold support.
The experienced archer knows that concentration and focus are the keys to success in competition or hunting. How do we keep our focus and concentration?
Many elite archers would tell you that, "It’s easy, but you need to develop your own Mental Program."
A mental program is a set of procedures that the archer follow through during his/her competition or preparing for that hunting shot. The mental program should be practiced and rehearsed regularly so that it may become easy during the time it is needed most.
This will help the archer to stay focused, concentrated and sometimes it helps to relax the tension. You should make a mental checklist and always practice and rehearse the list that best suits you.
Here is a example of a Mental Checklist.
Stance
A. Assume Stance
B. Nock Arrow
Draw and Aim
A. Set bow hold
B. Set draw hand hook
C. Raise bow and draw
D. Anchor
E. Align sight and level bow
F. Establish string pattern and sight picture
G. Focus, steady, and aim
Release and Follow Through
A. Tighten back muscles
B. Relax draw hand to release
C. Keep bow arm up and steady
The stances are important because the proper stance, means that archer will be able to distribute his/her body weight better. Proper stance keeps the archer’s shot consistent. View the stances below and notice how each stance is different in the feet placement.
Pros and Cons to Certain Stances
Type of Stance - Pros and Cons
Even Stance
Natural position
Small base of support in the front-back plane.
Easy to reproduce
Body isn't sturdy, so it can move if in high winds
Lowers area for string clearance, especially for large chested shooters.
Open Stance
Gives stable support base
Tends to make upper body twist towards target.
Reduces tendency to lean back from the target
Tends to use arm muscles more than back muscles to draw.
Close Stance
Gives stable support base
Reduces string clearance, so string may strike against body.
Gives good alignment of the arm and shoulder in direct line to the target
Tends to make archer lean away from target and overdraw the arrow.
Oblique Stance
Gives the greatest amount of clearance for the bowstring when arrows is released. Hard to maintain, so mainly used by expert archers. Body is in total equilibrium. Target can be seen clearly.
To begin practice, the exact placement of the feet on the shooting line should be marked. Some archers would tell you that stance deviations of even a few inches can cause sighting and aiming problems, which then in return could lead to accuracy problems.
Based on the scientific criteria, the open and oblique stances are better. But don’t base on your decision on just that. Individual choice is the pleasure of target archery. Many archers prefer the even stance. In this stance, the archer’s body weight is evenly distributed among both feet, and the heels and toes are aligned. The middle of the instep of the foot is aligned with the center of the target. However, the open stance is recommended for the beginning archer during their initial learning period.
In this stance, the feet should be shoulder-width apart. It is recommended that the archer should distribute his/her body weight evenly on both feet. The left foot should be moved backwards approximately six inches, as shown in the picture in stances. Some elite archers use the oblique stance.
In this stance the archer places his/her toe of the left foot nearest the target on a line and pivoting the left foot forty-five-degrees to the target.
The heel of the right foot is then placed in line with the toe of the left foot. This allows the bow arm to remain in a position where there will be optimum clearance of the bowstring when the arrow is released. The target should be seen clearly while using the oblique stance.
A closed stance. The shooting line is straddled and weight is evenly distributed among both feet. Left foot is moved forward a few inches so a heel-toe alignment exists between the left and right feet respectively. The four main steps in shooting are: Nocking, Drawing, Anchor Point, Release and Follow Through. These steps must be followed and done correctly to achieve greater accuracy. Look at the pictures below and observe the pattern. B. Nock Arrow
Nocking the arrow is the proper placement of the arrow in its shooting position on the bowstring.
Shooting starts when the archer holds the bow next to the hip near the target. Nocking begins when the archer has assumed his/her stance position. The arrow should be placed on the bowstring with the index feather upward at the serving.
The palm of the hand should never apply pressure on the bow. Relaxation is the basic fundamental of target archery. Expert athletes know when to relax under critical circumstances. Your mental program should help you with this and, thus, greatly increases your accuracy.
Draw Hand and Hook
Drawing: The act of pulling the bowstring to the anchor point on the archer’s face. Tip: Controlled breathing is important. A system should be developed for each archer so that the breathing is calm and the arms are stable during the total drawing, aiming, and releasing period.
Raise Bow and Draw
Before raising the bow, body position should be aligned and already assume the proper stance. Then gently raise the bow and look at the target. This is called nocking. Then simply draw out the arrows and aim at the target.
Anchor Point
Anchor Point is defined as the place on an archer’s face where the hand is placed consistently with the bowstring at full draw. Proper and comfort anchor points could increase the archer’s accuracy. It plays a great part in aiming and hitting the target. Anchor points are described as " high", or " low".
Pros and Cons to Certain Anchor Points
Low anchor point (Under Chin)
Two touch points provide consistency
Not comfortable for archers who have larges hands or short necks.
Stops overdrawing
Takes time to position
Low placement on face allows for long distances shots with less sight movement.
Tips: head control and position
Side anchor point
Quick position established
Allows overdrawing
Permits creeping
High anchor point (Release Aid)
Allows archers to partially sight down the arrow shaft and over the point if a bowsight is not being used.
Don't have bowsight.
The anchor point on or under the jaw bone is termed low. An anchor point on or near the bone inferior and also lateral to the eye is considered high. Depending on the facial contour and type of shooting, anchor points could differ among different archers. Many field archers, bow hunters, and instinctive shooters use the high anchor point.
When the bow is drawn, the sight level and bow level must be aligned properly to achieve maximum accuracy. Poor alignment could occur due to fatigue or possibly bad habit in practice.
Establish string pattern and sight picture
To increase accuracy. A young archer should never forget the importance of the proper string pattern and sight picture. First always mentally picture and visualize the target. Then assume the proper stance and arm yourself with the necessary gear for the draw. Check your nocking position and align your body position correctly.
Focus, steady, and aims
Once you have assume your stance and body alignment, then it's time to really focus. Steadily keep your bow hold position and aim at the target. During this whole process, keep the hand as steady as possible. If your bow starts to tremble the moment you lift it up, then that bow is too heavy for you. You must at least keep your bow from trembling for at least 5 seconds.
Release and Follow Through
Releasing the arrow properly is the most important fundamental in shooting. To follow through simply means to hold the release position until the arrow is safely launched onto the target. The key elements of success are: (1) Relaxation (2) and concentration. Here is a example of a good follow through: (1) The fingers on the bowstring hand are relaxed, (2) head and eyes are turned toward the target following the flight of the arrow,(3) the bow arm is extended toward the target, and (4) the bow hand is gripping the bow with the help of a sling.
A bow sling is designed to help the archer during the release and follow through. There are four different types of bow slings available. Any one of the bow sling will help the archer keep the bow from falling to the ground after the release.
Tighten back muscles
From this point on, it's basically time to shoot your first arrow. Tighten your back muscles and draw the bow string. Keep your back and arms straight at the target. Like any sports Archery also requires some muscle strength. Exercise regularly to improve your strength in both arms and back.
Relax draw hand to release
Keep your bow hold easy and relaxed. Never grip the bow too tightly. Your palm should only gently touche the nock. This could also reduce fatigue.
Keep bow arm up and steady
Once the arrow is released, you must still keep both of your hands and arms steady even after the release of the arrow, otherwise, the arrow might not be accurate after the release.
These techniques may increase your accuracy in shooting but it is up to the individual to practice and master the forms. As a new archer evolves, he/she might find new techniques and skills. No matter what the circumstances are either you are looking to become the Champ of Archery or just looking to improve your score.
I have one tip that will surely to help you.
Keep on practicing !!! There is no technique in the world that anyone could teach you to become the best archer. But with practice, you will definitely become one of the best archers in your world and enjoy the practice more.
Bow Hand Placement
Hand Placement
Changing the location or pressure of your hand on the bow grip will cause the arrow to change point of impact. That is why some target archers tattoo a permanent line on their hand to line up with the center of the grip.
Wearing a glove in cold weather can also change hand placement. Adding a bow quiver will change bow balance and the way you grip it.
Changing hand placement can cause your groups to string out either vertically or horizontally, depending on how you change pressure on the grip.
Changing the location or pressure of your hand on the bow grip will cause the arrow to change point of impact. That is why some target archers tattoo a permanent line on their hand to line up with the center of the grip.
Wearing a glove in cold weather can also change hand placement. Adding a bow quiver will change bow balance and the way you grip it.
Changing hand placement can cause your groups to string out either vertically or horizontally, depending on how you change pressure on the grip.
Bow Torque
"What is Bow Torque"?
This is one of the most common problems of archers and one of the most difficult to diagnose.
Gripping your bow too tight or tension in your bow hand or arm causes the bow to rotate in your hand.
Bow torque causes your groups to string out left and right. That is why controlling bow torque is so important."
This is one of the most common problems of archers and one of the most difficult to diagnose.
Gripping your bow too tight or tension in your bow hand or arm causes the bow to rotate in your hand.
Bow torque causes your groups to string out left and right. That is why controlling bow torque is so important."
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